Kitchen featuring a granite island bench and a stainless steel bench behind. One of the most important elements in a kitchen is the benchtop. It can make or break the appearance of your kitchen, so make your selection carefully. This guide provides an insight into some of the different options available. Each bench material comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. These are my favourite benchtops and ones I use most often. Natural stone - Marble & Granite A beautiful Carrera marble bench. Natural stone such as marble or granite is a luxurious and classic choice for a kitchen benc ..read more

The second hardest working room in your home is the bathroom. In part one of this article we looked at vanities, tapware, baths and more - read the article here… We can help you to select the best fittings for your particular needs, style and budget. With our expert knowledge of different plumbing and surface material finishes the end result will be a bathroom that you love. Below are some more of the decisions we work through with our clients when designing their bathrooms: Vessel basins on a double vanity Basins - do you prefer a vessel basin on top of the vanity or an integrated basin. Oft ..read more

The second hardest working room in your home is the bathroom. A bathroom should be a practical space when preparing for the day and a sanctuary to escape to at the end of a long day. And, like the kitchen, the bathroom needs detailed design consideration and space planning. We can help you to select the best fittings for your particular needs, style and budget. With our expert knowledge of different plumbing and surface material finishes the end result will be a bathroom that you love. Below are some of the decisions we work through with our clients when designing their bathrooms: Layout - is ..read more

Consider these tips in the planning stage of your renovation to help make your project a success. Plan Central Heating In the planning stage of your renovation, allow for some kind of central heating. My personal favourite is underfloor ducted central heating, either gas or a heat pump. Being cosy and warm in the winter makes any villa or bungalow a much nicer place to live in than an unheated one! Even with all the insulation in the world it will still be a bit chilly without good heating. If you go for the heat pump option (rather than gas) then you can also use it as an air conditioning sys ..read more

Villa Kitchen Renovation The owners of a pretty bay villa in central Auckland contacted us to help with their kitchen and dining space which was the last part of their house to be renovated. The existing kitchen was on its last legs and the layout didn’t work for this growing family. With the husband a professional chef, they wanted something very practical where it was possible to cook for a crowd but also somewhere that the family could gather everyday for casual meals. The old kitchen was small, a bit dark and with a layout that just didn’t work. There was already a great window on the r ..read more

Client purchases cute  little villa on the city fringe, Auckland. The owners of this property purchased it with a mind to renovate it before they moved in. They were looking for something a bit smaller than their current home, as their oldest two kids had left home some years ago, so now there was only the couple and their teenaged daughter. They liked the idea of an apartment alternative, something with a bit of character that was close to cafes and restaurants. This house ticked those boxes. The original villa. As soon as they settled on the house they engaged Greg Jones of Jones Archi ..read more

Here are some simple design ideas that I like to use for my clients when designing their kitchens. You might find one or two that you hadn’t considered before that will improve the function of your space. Add a drinks area If you have the space consider including a small area dedicated to making drinks both hot and cold. I like to include a small sink and a near-boiling water tap which not only means you don’t need a kettle (one less appliance to store) but can also mean you have instant chilled and sparkling water as well if you go for a model like the one linked below. Add in a beverage frid ..read more

Image Suzanne Allen When you’re renovating your home think about the layout of your laundry in the planning stage to ensure it functions as well as possible. If you’re lucky enough to have a whole room dedicated to a laundry here are some things to consider when you are designing the space. Plan your storage Think carefully about all the items that will need to be stored in the space and make a note of them. Sometimes in an older house like a villa or bungalow, there aren’t a lot of other storage cupboards in the house so the laundry becomes the all-round utility and storage space. Allow for ..read more

So, you’re planning a big renovation with the floorplan being extended and changed, bedrooms and bathrooms added, a new entertainer’s kitchen, a walk in robe, a pool for the kids, and perhaps a home office for work flexibility. While you’ve probably thought long and hard about the additional space you want and how the layout will flow and work for your family, have you given as much thought to the interior design? Don’t leave the interiors until last Sometimes the interiors can be a bit of an afterthought. Often homeowners plan to make decisions about the interior as they go. But if you wan ..read more

Here are some simple design ideas that can really make the difference between a nice ensuite and a WOW ensuite! Plan good lighting around the mirror There is nothing worse than trying to put on makeup without adequate lighting! Try these amazing LED backlit mirrors above the vanity. They have a touch switch on the front of the mirror and you can change the light from cool to warm. They’re also fitted with a demister pad so they won’t mist up while you’re in the shower. Add a feature pendant or wall light beside your vanity if you have the wall space – this will give you a bit of extra lighting ..read more